By Dave Wagner PORTALES — It didn’t take long — just two matches — for the first-year Eastern New Mexico University men’s soccer program to break into the win column. Of course, ENMU coaches Carlos Elizondo and Travis McCorkle thought it could’ve been even sooner. The Greyhounds scored just 61 seconds into their history on […]

By Laurie Stone Monday was the first day of school for those attending the fall semester at ENMU. As some students were confident beginning the semester, others were uncomfortable because of the changes they were facing. Margaret Estrada, the records clerk at ENMU said everything was going smoothly in her opinion. “The kids have had […]

By Kevin Wilson It was Sunday night when my cell phone went off, and the caller ID read “Sarah.” And that was when I talked to my friend, the movie star. OK, I’ll admit it — I’m stretching the truth a little bit here. But this is a longtime friend I’m talking about, and I […]

Shannon Osborne splits her time as the manager of the Harding Apartments and a program advisor for Eastern New Mexico University’s Office of Organizations and Activities. Her fantasy dinner party would include Eleanor Roosevelt and the Care Bears, and her superhero name would be Red Raven. What do you think of Portales? “I think Portales […]

By Joan Clayton It’s been hard for me to find something good about grackle birds. Those huge black birds annoy me. During the early dusk of the winter season a black sea of birds descend on neighborhood trees, including ours. They leave the lawns white with residue, not to mention vehicles. My husband’s great day […]

Dave Wagner CLOVIS — After thoroughly dominating the game, the Roosevelt County 9-10-year-old All-Stars were foiled by Little League rules Monday night. Roosevelt County beat Clovis American 11-1 in the championship game of the double-elimination District 3 tournament at Beachum Field in a game called after 3 1/2 innings by the 10-run rule. But American […]

By Charlie Carmichael Rain, rain, rain! The heavens finally opened. The past week or so has been a little different weather-wise. The Lord has surely answered our prayers for rain. The first in the area was the first part of last week but too late for my news. It was heavier in some areas, I […]

By Helena Rodriguez As a child, nothing was more comforting than hearing the thumping of Dad’s boots in the wee hours of the morning, reassuring me he was home safe from another music gig. Even as an adult, I would wait for that familiar thumping in the night when I stayed with my parents. Only […]

By Helena Rodriguez My friend Mary Reyes of Abilene, Texas, does not have a messy house. I repeat: Her house is not messy. I call it “tastefully cluttered.” Maybe you know someone like Mary. I believe there’s a little charm to this term, “tastefully cluttered,” which I coined myself. You are not likely to hear […]

By Bob Huber Today’s topic is the month of June, which is bustin’ out all over with rambunctious celebrations like Father’s Day, weddings, the summer solstice, Flag Day, and the most wonderful day of all — my birthday. As you can see, June is a frenzy of activity, spiked with cheap champagne and police roadblocks. […]

By Jim Lee Plants hate me. When I watch those leaves, buds, and stalks (in other people’s yards) bobbing and swaying in the breeze and those emerging blossoms basking in the Portales sunshine, I see much more than meets the eyeball. Yes, I know what they’re doing. I can see through all that supposedly innocent […]

By Bob Huber When the Freedom of Information Act brought to light World War II super heroes known covertly as the Scarlet Pimpernels, it exposed a dark world of espionage, bravery, and thankless hardship. The group’s name was derived from a movie by the same name staring Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon, which played one […]

The rain was heavier down in South County and things are even greener with more blossoms than last week. Rattlers Some rattlesnakes were killed in the area southwest of the old Garrison Store. South County Sports Kids Matthew Turnbough, formerly of this area but now lives in Rio Rancho, called his grandparents last week about […]

Bob Huber Because I was so successful last week eliminating the brouhaha about gay marriages, I’m willing today to wrestle with an even thornier topic — the names of colors. What I’m saying is, if you don’t want to start World War III, don’t ask what color “puce” is, or even “heliotrope.” They sound like […]

Don McAlavy Not every hairdresser would work at a funeral home. The former Verdine Crume, now Mrs. Duane Howard of Clovis, has been praised by many husbands, fathers and children of the deceased with the wonderful work she performs. Verdine received her cosmetology license in 1938 and was soon called by a funeral home to […]

Michelle Seeber Six-year-old Stephanne Chandler really wanted to win the 18th Annual Little Miss Merry Christmas Pageant held Friday night at the Cornerstone Building in downtown Portales after the light parade. In fact, she wanted to win so badly that she and her mother baked cakes and pies, sought donations from 51 Portales businesses and […]

Joan Clayton The gift of love is available to all of us and there is no finer gift. For many years the approaching holiday seasons for me turned into “‘tis the season to be stressful.” Cleaning, baking and shopping brought exhaustion, and by the time Christmas Eve rolled around, I had lost the real […]

By Kevin Wilson Mr. Defense had a lot of offense, as it turned out, and the Greyhounds put enough of the little things for a season-opening victory. Coleman and junior transfer Jamal Washington had 18 apiece to lead the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds, who closed out Incarnate Word at the free-throw line in a […]

Mike Linn Since Silver Paiz was a young girl she dreamed of becoming the New Mexico State Fair Queen. Little did she know then she would be the first from Roosevelt County. Paiz, 19, won overall honors in the state pageant Saturday in Albuquerque, edging 14 other county queens. She also placed first in the […]

Helena Rodriguez Chihuahua dogs seem to be disappearing fast from our neighborhood on North Ave. J. in Portales — and that disturbs me. When our precious little Pepe disappeared from our front yard on the night of July 1, I soon learned one of Pepe’s playmates, Chiquita, had disappeared from the next block down a […]